Romans 12 · Verse 15

Romans 12:15

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Romans 12:15, King James Version

Romans 12:15 in other translations

BSBRejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
WEBRejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
ASVRejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.
YLTto rejoice with the rejoicing, and to weep with the weeping,
DARBYRejoice with those that rejoice, weep with those that weep.
BBETake part in the joy of those who are glad, and in the grief of those who are sorrowing.
WebsterRejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

What does Romans 12:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. Rejoice with them that rejoice; and weep--the "and" should probably be omitted. with them that weep--What a beautiful spirit of sympathy with the joys and sorrows of others is here inculcated! But it is only one charming phase of the unselfish character which belongs to all living Christianity. What a world will ours be when this shall become its reigning spirit! Of the two, however, it is more easy to sympathize with another's sorrows than his joys, because in the one case he needs us; in the other not. But just for this reason the latter is the more disinterested, and so the nobler.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. Rejoice with them, etc. This command grows out of the doctrine stated in Rom 12:4,5 that the church is one; that it has one interest; and therefore that there should be common sympathy in its joys and sorrows. Or, enter into the welfare of your fellow- Christians, and show your attachment to them by rejoicing that they are made happy. Comp. 1Cor 12:26. "And whether-- one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it." In this way happiness diffuses and multiplies itself. It becomes expanded over the face of the whole society; and the union of the Christian body tends to enlarge the sphere of happiness, and to prolong the joy conferred by religion. God has bound the family of man together by these sympathies, and it is one of the happiest of all devices to perpetuate and extend human enjoyments.

Weep, etc. Jn 11:35. At the grave of Lazarus our Saviour evinced this in a most tender and affecting manner. The design of this direction is to produce mutual kindness and affection, and to divide our sorrows by the sympathies of friends. Nothing is so well fitted to do this as the sympathy of those we love. All who are afflicted know how much it diminishes theft sorrow to see others sympathizing with them, and especially those who evince in theft sympathies the Christian spirit, How sad would be a suffering world if there were none who regarded our griefs with interest or with tears! if every sufferer were left to bear his sorrows unpitied and alone! and if all the ties of human sympathy were rudely cut at once, and men were left to suffer in solitude, and unbefriended! It may be added, that it is the special duty of Christians to sympathize in each other's griefs,

(1.) because their Saviour set them the example;

(2) because they belong to the same family;

(3) because they are subject to similar trials and afflictions; and

(4) because they cannot expect the sympathy of a cold and unfeeling world.

(i) "Rejoice with them" 1Cor 12:26.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice - Take a lively interest in the prosperity of others. Let it be a matter of rejoicing to you when you hear of the health, prosperity, or happiness of any brother. Weep with them that weep - Labour after a compassionate or sympathizing mind. Let your heart feel for the distressed; enter into their sorrows, and bear a part of their burdens. It is a fact, attested by universal experience, that by sympathy a man may receive into his own affectionate feelings a measure of the distress of his friend, and that his friend does find himself relieved in the same proportion as the other has entered into his griefs. "But how do you account for this?" I do not account for it at all, it depends upon certain laws of nature, the principles of which have not been as yet duly developed.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 12:9-16

The professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments. Depending on Divine grace, they must detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and useful. We must not only do that which is good, but we must cleave to it. All our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, love. This denotes the love of parents to their…

Read the full comment on Romans 12:9-16 →

Romans 12:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

χαίρεινchaireinto rejoiceG5463
μετὰmetawith theG3326
χαιρόντων,chairontōnrejoicing,G5463
κλαίεινklaieinto weepG2799
μετὰmetawith theG3326
κλαιόντων.klaiontōnweeping.G2799

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 12:15

  • 1 Corinthians 12:26

    And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

  • Hebrews 13:3

    Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

  • Psalms 35:13-14

    But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

  • John 11:33-36

    When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

  • Job 30:25

    Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?

  • Luke 1:58

    And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

  • Philippians 2:17-18

    Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

  • Acts 11:23

    Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

  • Jeremiah 9:1

    Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

  • John 11:19

    And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:3

    And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

  • Luke 15:5-10

    And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rejoice.
Isa 66:10-14; Lu 1:58; 15:5-10; Ac 11:23; 1Co 12:26; 2Co 2:3
Php 2:17,18,28
weep.
Ne 1:4; Job 2:11; Ps 35:13,14; Jer 9:1; Joh 11:19,33-36; 2Co 11:29
Php 2:26; Heb 13:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 12:14

    Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

  • Romans 12:15

    Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

  • Romans 12:16

    Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Read all of Romans 12

Romans 12:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Gozaos con los que se gozan: llorad con los que lloran.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Réjouissez-vous avec ceux qui se réjouissent, et pleurez avec ceux qui pleurent;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Freuet euch mit den sich Freuenden, weinet mit den Weinenden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Gaudere cum gaudentibus, flere cum flentibus: